Purpose of Worship

Purpose of Worship: Glorifying

Worship is fellowship with God with praise and giving of honour due to Him. This is plain from the Old Testament form of worship.
New Testament fellowship with God is made possible through the offering of Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God.

Now we meet with God in blessed covenant fellowship as Christ dwells among us through His Spirit.

There are two New Testament words for worship.
The first means "to kiss the hand of" or "to bow down towards" or to pay homage to someone. This is the word used to signify humble adoration. The second main word means "to render honor" or "to pay homage." Both words carry the idea of giving something to God.

In our humanistic society, there is a strong tendency to make our worship services man-centered instead of God-centered. Dr. P.Y. De Jong sounded a warning about this many years ago: "Today we hear voices insisting that worship must meet our needs."

Worship of God must be glorifying to God and edifying. We exalt the Lord in worship and we are spiritually blessed also in the process of adoring and seeking God.

Purpose of Worship: Edifying

When complaints are lodged against the worship service of a church (sometimes legitimately), ninety-nine percent of the time the complaint is, "I didn't get anything out of the service!" How often does the complainer say, "This worship service brought no glory to God!"?

We should begin to think about our worship services by considering "God" and end in same way (Isa 42:8 ). God is great and greatly to be praised: "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."
Because of this principle truth, our view of God will directly affect how we worship in church.

If man exists for the sake of the glory of God rather than that God should exist for the sake of
the happiness of man, worship takes on a new perspective.

Whether or not he receives personal satisfaction and pleasure from the acts of worship is secondary. We do not throw this out as a consideration, but it is subordinated to a higher aim and goal: the glory of our God.

Worship that is glorifying to God will also edify His church. That is the second purpose of worship.

Worship in the church should therefore edify or build up those engaged in it,
not by what may sound good to the ears (the flesh) but by words that impact the heart of man (the spirit).

Source: RPG Online

O Rejoice in the Lord

"God never moves without purpose and plan"

As a Christian, my belief is that God is sovereign. He is in control of everything and everything happens for a reason.
Below are the lyrics to one of my fave songs "O Rejoice in the Lord". When I sing this song, I am encouraged to know that God watches out for me and I am never alone.

It reminds us that God is directing our paths and that He makes no mistake. It's all part of a bigger plan, a master plan to mold us and refine us.

'O Rejoice in the Lord'

God never moves without purpose or plan.
When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the Lord though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead,
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

Now I can see testing comes from above,
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried and purified,
I shall come forth as gold.